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July 19 Stage 16: St. Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Gap, 162.5km (101 miles)

This stage has a sting in the tail in the form of a 20km finishing loop that climbs the opening 4km of the Col Bayard (with some 10-percent pitches) before veering off to the Col de Manse summit, which is 1,640 feet (500 meters) above the finish in Gap. The descent via La Rochette is tricky and steep — where, in 2003, Joseba Beloki fell and sustained career-ending injuries and Armstrong cyclo-crossed down the mountainside to avoid crashing.

THE SCOOP: Even though a breakaway will probably stay clear to contest the stage win, some GC contenders will almost certainly attack on the Bayard-Manse climb that summits only 11.5km from the finish.OVERALL RATING: **